Forum Session

Date:	JULY 22, 2004
Title:	Implementing the New Medicare Drug Benefit: Challenges and Opportunities for States
Managers:	Judith D. Moore & Jennifer Ryan
Summary:	This Forum Session focused on issues facing states as the new Medicare drug benefit is implemented. This facilitated discussion brought together current and former state Medicaid directors, other state officials, and experts on state based issues to reflect on the priorities and challenges sure to arise in the next 18 months and in the longer term. Key congressional and federal agency staff were also invited to offer insights about the intent of the law and how implementation is being envisioned.
Speakers:	Current state health officials, including: Barbara Edwards, Deputy Director, Office of Medicaid, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; Richard Figueroa, Legislative Director, California Department of Insurance; Mary Kennedy, Medicaid Director, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Kathy Kuhmerker, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Medicaid Management, New York Department of Health; Kathleen Mason, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Senior Benefits and Utilization Management, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services; Tom Snedden, Director, Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly, Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Additional participants also included former state officials, state health policy experts, and congressional and executive branch representatives.
Related Materials:	The report from this meeting was published August 31, 2004. See also the reports from the follow-on sessions in 2005 and 2006.

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